Overview of recent INTEGRAL polarimetric observations
Abstract
In complement to spectro-imaging observations, gamma-ray polarimetry provides a unique insight into the geometry and magnetic configuration of compact gamma-ray sources, such as neutron stars or black holes. Due to the unprecedented spectral and timing capabilities of Integral, and thanks to its coded mask imaging technics, which efficiently suppresses most of the background contribution, we have measured linearly polarized emission from the brightest cosmic high energy sources. We were able to measure for the first time, at energies above 200 keV, a clear signal from several gamma-ray sources such as the Crab pulsar and nebula, the black hole candidates Cygnus X-1 and V404 Cygni and Gamma-Ray Bursts. These observations have enabled us to put strong constraints on the physical process at work in these sources. In that talk, we will review the recent Integral observations of gamma-ray polarimetry and the prospectives with possible joint observations with ASTROSAT and ASTRO-H.
- Publication:
-
41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016cosp...41E1126L